Texas, Wichita Falls defend home ice successfully in three-game series
February 6, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
As the song by Stompin' Tom Connors says, "the puck is in, the home team wins, the good ol' hockey game." And that's exactly what happened three times this weekend as the Wildcats played three games against the Texas Tornado. Their foes from Frisco won twice on their home ice on Thursday and Friday before the Wildcats returned the favor on Saturday at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.
Thursday night was largely forgettable for anyone in the black and red, as the Tornado rode four first period goals to a 6-0 victory. The Wildcats faced 8 penalties to one for Texas, and the Tornado made them pay with three power play goals in a span of just over five minutes, followed by a shorthanded goal with under two minutes left in the opening period. Jack Prince tallied a hat trick plus an assist, four of his eight points on the weekend.
Jojo Jeanetta faced 17 shots with 13 saves in the opening period before being relieves by Matt Leon, who stopped 17 of 19 in the final forty minutes.
Friday night looked much better from the outset, but still ended on a sour note as the Wildcats blew a 2-goal lead in a 4-3 loss. Patrick Yudez scored on a 3-on-1, assisted by George Pagonis and Tyler Hope just 2:28 into the game. That same line struck again six minutes later, as Pagonis scored from Yudez and Matt Purmal for a 2-0 start.
Nick Neville got the Tornado on the board early in the second, but Renato Engler regained the two-goal lead off a nifty move by Zach Mohr, who stepped around a defenseman and put the puck to the captain in the slot for a quick wrister. Nick Szopinski added the second assist. Michael Hoy cut the deficit to a goal for the Tornado late in the second before once again Jack Prince struck in the third-going unchecked to jam home a loose puck early in the third, then scoring the game-winner with 2:23 to go, both via the power play.
Returning home helped the Wildcats to bring a much-improved effort, winning a back-and-forth game by a 4-2 final. The Wildcats got on the board first with Jason Eddy tallying his seventh of the season from Szopinski and Mohr for a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame. The Tornado struck back via yet another power play goal-their sixth of the weekend-with former Wildcat Drew Allen tying the game.
The Wildcats finally came alive with their special teams units coming up big to regain the lead in the second as Renato Engler tallied a shorthanded goal, going glove side high on Tornado goalie Hunter Leisner. Tucker Poolman and Zach Pochiro assisted on the goal. T.J. Stuntz of the Tornado scored his first NAHL goal as the Tornado caught up once again, but the tie only lasted for a minute before Pochiro brought the puck over the Tornado line and dropped it off for Engler who found defenseman Sergey Soloviev on a cross-ice pass. Soloviev ripped off a cannon shot past Leisner for a 3-2 lead. George Pagonis added an empty-netter with 1:02 left, clearing the puck from over in Archer County and sending it rolling on edge into the net.
WEEKEND NOTES: The Wildcats are only 5-18-3 on the road this year. Fortunately, only four of the Wildcats' final 15 games are away from the KYC. Engler's shorthanded goal is his second of the season and the fifth this year for the Wildcats as a team.
Trivia Time
Renato Engler scored his second shorthanded goal of the year on Saturday. Who had the most shorties in a single season in Wildcats' history? Answer is below.
Preview: Wildcats vs. Amarillo tomorrow, Corpus Christi Fri. and Sat.
The Wildcats will face the division-leading Amarillo Bulls tomorrow night at 7:05 pm. It's $2 Tuesday, where all upper level seats are just $2, so bring all your friends down for a great night of fun!
Brooks Behling leads the Bulls-and the entire NAHL-with 32 goals this season. He's also best on the Bulls with 63 points and is on a five-game scoring streak. The Wildcats have held him to only one goal this year in six games, but he has 8 assists. Defenseman John Rey is their assist leader overall with 35. Be prepared for some rough stuff-in six games, the Bulls and Wildcats have had 8 fights this season. Last year, they had 12 in 10 games.
After that, the Wildcats will hit the road on Thursday for a pair of weekend games in Corpus Christi. The puck drops at the American Bank Center at 7 pm on Friday and Saturday.
Beau Walker is the IceRays leader in assists (22) and points (32) while Eric Purcell is their top goal scorer with 16 this season.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
Win a Wildcats' blanket! We're giving a few away, so text WFWildcats1 to 72727 for your chance to win!
We're on the air! Join us for the Wildcats' Coaches' Radio Show at P2 The Deuce downtown on Tuesdays at 7 pm. The Voice of the Wildcats, Drew Pelto, will interview the Wildcats' coaches and your favorite Wildcats' players. If you can't get to the show, tune in on the radio at 7:30 pm on 94.9, KOLI, The Outlaw. We won't have a show tomorrow due to the game against Amarillo, but we'll be back on the air on Valentine's Day, February 14 at 7:30 pm.
Adult hockey and open skating: Check WFWildcatsHockey.com for the schedule under the Games and Ice Events tab! We also offer birthday party packages at a Wildcats game or an open skating session. Any questions about our ice programs? Contact Sarah Scrivner in the Wildcats office.
Trivia Answer
Skylur Jameson holds the team record with three shorthanded goals in a season. He did it in both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
Alumni Report
NORTH AMERICAN PRO LEAGUES
AHL
Chad Costello has three assists in six games since joining the AHL's Worcester Sharks. Even though he hasn't played in the league in three weeks, Costello still is second in the ECHL in scoring with 57 points.
ECHL
Kyle Kraemer is on a three-game scoring streak, including putting up goals in back to back Ontario Reign wins over the Utah Grizzlies this past weekend.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 1
Kyle Delaurell had a pair of third-period assists as Air Force toppled RIT 4-2 on Saturday.
Brian Sheehan scored twice for Sacred Heart in a tie and a loss against Bentley. Sheehan is the leading scorer for the Pioneers as a freshman.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 3
Brandon Stroud had a goal and two assists in Western New England's 4-3 win over Becker on Wednesday. Stroud leads the Golden Bears in all offensive categories with 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points.
Brett Kaneshiro scored a goal and added an assist in Curry's 8-2 win over Suffolk Thursday.
Adam Cardwell had a goal and an assist for Wisconsin-River Falls in a 7-6 win over Wisconsin-Stout on Saturday.
Eddie Effinger also picked up a goal and an assist on Saturday in Amherst's 5-2 win over Colby.
Kyle Gallegos had a big week for Tufts. On Tuesday he had two assists in a 6-1 win over Suffolk, and then on Friday had a hat trick and an assist in a 7-1 win over Connecticut College.
Wentworth took a pair of wins this past week with three former Wildcats helping the cause on offense. Skylur Jameson had three assists, Shaun Jameson had two assists, and Curtis Heinz picked up a goal and an assist-the first points of his college career.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2012
- NAHL Announces Combat Hockey 3 Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Jacks Acquire Doucet From Topeka - Odessa Jackalopes
- Texas, Wichita Falls defend home ice successfully in three-game series - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Justin Quenneville to Coach 2012 NAHL Selects U18 Team - Corpus Christi IceRays
- IceRays Add Two Former USHL/OHL Players - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- Tornado Weekly - Texas Tornado
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